Apparatus for tensioning tubular fabric



Nov. 26, 1940. COHN ET AL I I 2,222,794

APPARATUS FOR TENSIONING TUBULAR FABRIC Filed Oct. 11, 1957 4'Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS .SfiMUEL COHN JULES 6. WALTEB ATTORNEYS s. CQHN ET AL 2,222,794

APPARATUS FOR TENSiONING TUBULAR FABRIC v 4 Sheets-Shed 2 Nov. 26, 1940.

Filed Oct. 11', 1957 INVENTORS SAMUEL COHN JULES 6. WALTER ATTORNEYS Nov. 26, 1940. s. COHN ETAL 2,222,794

APPARATUS FOR TENSIONING TUBULAR FABRIC Filed Oct. 11, 1957 V 4 Sheets-Sheetifl INVENTORS I SAMUEL COHN JULES G. ,WALTER 'JATTORNEYS s. coHN ETAL 2,222,794

APPARATUS FOR TENSIONING TUBULAR FABRIC Nov. .26; 1940.

Filed Oct. 11, 19 4 Shaets-SheetA INVENTOR5 SAMUEL COHN JULES a. WALTER 4' j ATORNEYS 7' Patented Nov. 26, 1940 UNlTEl) sTA'rss 2,222,794 APPARATUS FOR. TENSIONING TUBULAR FABKI Samuel Cohn and Jules G. Walter, New York, N. Y., assignors to Samcoe Holding Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 11,

20 Claim.

This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for flattening traveling tubular fabric and particularly for establishing and maintaining the fabric in transverse alignment. It is appli- 5 cable to systems employing an internal spreader engaging the fabric tube at opposite sides under conditions in which there is a tendency to shift fabric longitudinally in the zones of engagement relative to the intermediate central portion of the fabric producing misalignment of the courses, stripes, pattern elements and the like. This condition is particularly serious in knitted fabric tubes, especially the larger sizes, due to the ease with which fabric of this type is distorted especially when manipulated in moist condition,-and the present system is particularly useful in manipulating fabric subjected to steaming.

The invention is applicable to a system for producing the desired transverse alignment by imposing an appropriate tension on the central portion of the flattened tube, and correlating such tension in novel manner with the marginal retardation of the fabric to bring the appropriate fabric elements into accurate alignment at a selected point, such as the nip of the finishing rollers.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a system adapted for efficient operation under widely varying conditions. It is arranged for ready variation of the tension in a selected zone or zones without interrupting the travel of the fabric tube. It may be constructed and operated to apply graduated tension from the center of the flattened tube toward the margins, and may be arranged to vary the rate of such graduation and the width of the tension zone. It may likewise be arranged to apply comparatively uniform tension across a predetermined central zone and to vary such tension while maintaining comparative uniformity thereof throughout the zone of engagement.

A purpose of the invention is to provide a simple and practical construction capable of convenient mounting and operation on machines of known type.

The invention is especially adapted to tube flattening arrangements employing marginal propulsion means for the fabric. In this arrangement the central tensioning means is advantageously located in approximate transverse alignment with such propulsion means and cooperates therewith to establish an accurate control of the rate of travel of-all portions of the fabric throughout a single transverse zone, avoiding the tendency of the fabric to become distorted in the gaps between 1937, Serial No. 168,364 (Cl. 26-55) longitudinally spaced central and marginal fabri engaging structures.

A feature 'of the invention is the provision ,ofimproved means on the internal spreader foren-v gaging external margin propulsion rollersEor' the.

like, such means being constructed and arranged 1 to hold the fabric against the periphery of'such. rollers throughout the engagementzone rather than at the points of direct'pressurebetweenthe rollers and the corresponding portions of the spreader. This arrangement distributes the engagement between the fabric and the rollers over a relatively large area. reducing the tendency to mark or otherwise distort the fabric and increas- '15 ing the propulsive efiect of the rollers.

Another feature ofthe invention comprises an improved construction of the nip bar at the end of the spreader normally located adjacent the nip of the rolls.

Other objects and advantages of the invention Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 7 7 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary'plan view of a modified form of tensioning apparatus; l Fig. 7 is an endwise elevation of such modification;

Fig. 8 is aside elevation thereof with parts broken away; Y

Fig. 9 is a detail plan view of a propelling device with the parts shown in central horizontal section;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical section on line Ill-lilofFlgQ; g

Fig. 11 is a similar section showing a modified form; v V

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of asimplified spreader and central tensioning construction;

20 will appear from thefollowing description con- .a pot eye 2| over the spreading device and thence arranged to form a smooth continuation of the ends of how 23. Propeller heads 23 are inter-- connected in suitable manner to maintain apredetermined spacing corresponding to the desired 16 width of the flattened fabric; and means prefer-1 ably is provided for adjusting such spacing, operable without removing the fabric. A suitable arrangement is illustrated, and comprises notched rods 33 mounted in heads 23 and fitting within a 30 connecting sleeve 3| provided at its ends with frames 32 carrying latches 33 engaging the notches-gin rods 34 and provided with springpressed finger pieces 34 operable by pressure through the fabricto release the latches 33 and 34 permit achange in the spacing of propeller heads". I g a The propeller heads 23 are arranged to maintain: the fabric F in engagement with the propel.-

"lerrolls ;3land for the support of the spreader structure. by, means of rolls '3! during operation..

said rolls may be mounted on vertical shafts 33 journaledin carriages 31' slidably mounted on rods 33. The lower ends of shafts 34 carry'worm gears "engaging worms 43 on drive 'shaft 25 85 held in alignment with rods 34 by bracket 4|. Said carriages may be transversely adjusted to vary the spacing. of propeller rolls 3! in accordance with various spaced positions of propeller heads 23, a suitable arrangement comprising a 0 threaded engagement with a rod 33. the threads for the two carriages 31 being in opposite directions, so that suitable rotation of said threaded rod will adjust the propeller-rolls without disturb-- ing the drive thereof.' I An arrangement is provided for applying tension to the fabric intermediate the propeller rolls 3'. This includes upper and lower internal transverse spreader bows 42 adjustably mounted on the spreader structure, as by pivoting the ends of the 40 bows in frames 32 by a clamping engagement permitting adjustment about a horizontal axis. Bows 42 preferably have a convex curvature toward the plies of the fabric following a smooth curve-between the lines of marginal engagement with the II spreader, as shown in Fig. 3. The zone of fabric engagement by bows 42 preferably terminates adiacent to but substantially spaced from the area of such marginal engagement for purposes hereinafter set forth. Bows 42 preferably have likedo wise a curvature in a horizontal plane to present a convex surface in the direction from which the cloth is fed. In referring to the curvatures of the various fabric engaging bows herein, reference to inward or outward curvature indicates convexity 68 toward or from the plane of flattening of the tube; forward curvature indicates convexity toward the direction from which the cloth is fed and rearward convexity indicates curvature in the opposite direction. a V 70 Bows 42 as shown in Figs. 1-5 therefore'are curved in both outward and forward directions, with their end portions inwardly deflected away from the cloth into position for engagement with clamps 32. Outer bows 43 are provided in'position to engage the fabric adjacent bows 42, and

are arranged for adjustment to vary their curvature relative to the fabric and their position relative to bows 42, thereby varying the central ten sion on the fabric. In the convenient arrangement illustrated,'bows 43 are mounted on adiust- 6 ing rods 44 frictionally pivoted in slide blocks ll adjustably clamped in vertical slots 44 in tension frame members 41 mountedat opposite sides of the apparatus on frame 25. Handles 43 are provided on the, outer ends of rods 41 for adjusting 1 the positions of bows 43.

A suitable location and conformation of bows 43 is important to obtain various types and degrees of tensionadjustment. In the form illustrated the bows 43 are convex on their fabric- 15 engaging faces and are connected to rods 44 by relatively, straight legs 43 preferably arranged substantially at right angles to rods 44 and the contiguous curved portion of bows 43, as shown in Figures 3 and 5. Bows 43 preferably have likewise a rearward convexity as shown in Fig. 5, and in operative position may be arranged so that they may move beneath as well as above bows 42 when appropriately arranged as illustrated.

Various modifications in the contour and arrangement of the fabric-engagin bows may be made within the'scope of the invention. One modification is illustrated in Figs. 5-8, and relates primarily to the arrangement and contour of the outer bows 43'. In this form the curvature of bows 43' is generally similar to that of the contiguous bows 42! i An improved construction for the spreader heads 23 is also provided, and illustrated more particularly in Figs. 9-11. Each propeller head 29 is provided with convex rollers 50 extending into a corresponding groove H in the propeller roll 35, and heretofore serving to hold the fabric F againstsuch roll by direct pressure. This arrangement provided a gripping effect on the fabric more or less localized at the points of engagement between rollers 44 and roll 34.

In the present embodiment applicants have provided means for maintaining the fabric in engagement with the periphery of roll 35 between 45 rollers 53. In the form illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 this is accomplished by means of bridge rods 52 mounted at their ends on wings 33 of head 23. and spanning a portion of the arcuate recess 44 'in the outer face of head 24, recess 54 following the general contour of roll 33. Bridge rods 42 overlie said recess at an appropriate distance above the upper and lower faces of the head 23 to hold the fabric F outwardly against the periphv ery of roll 35 between rollers "as shown. A

modiflcation is illustrated in Fig. 11, in which bridge flanges ll integral with head 22 are provided with outer cloth engaging faces 43 which extend across the bight of recess 54 and function in the same manner as bridge rods 42.

with this arrangement the fabric is pressed strongly against the periphery of each propeller roll 35 above and below groove II by the tension at right angles to the plane of the roll produced by bridge rods 52 and the action of rollers 43 in forcing the fabric into the groove ii at substantially spaced points, thereby exerting a tensioning effect in the plane of rotation of the roll 35. This construction likewise increases the propelling effect of each roll 34 since the driving en- 7 gagement is primarily with the periphery of the roll at the sides'of groove 5|, which is greater than the periphery of the central part of the groove against which the fabric is pressed by the rollers 50, and which in the absence of such ten-' sioning efilect would determine the propulsioneg cited by the 1'011135.- There is likewiseecertain assist in assuring properjabric tension-anding engagement. 1

A suitable arrangement is tainingthe flattenedtubest the desired 'w idth' between heads 29 and the rolls 22-. 1311 this par.

posespreadersrods 51 are employedmountedat one end .on. heads; 29 and connected atthaotherrg end to nip bar 5: positioned-in the nip otfrbuer 22. An -..arna.ngement is which. iacili tates the maintenance of the desirediull width of i the material until it is taken up .bythe .roilersii... The arrangement .likewise avoids the necessity for. employing a nip; bar 5.8-i'onevery width adto a t n-e. de n te. reta vns nb tw e the I fi inari'njretardationfor'accelerationfanwtherate difierential in. the propulsion at the. center: 0igroove 5| and at themargins thereof which is ad vantageousunder certain conditions.. and ma'y justment of the-spreader.. Inthisconstruction I each spreader rod 61 ma be de e tab m un e on a wing 53 ofa head; 29, as byproviding return bend latch portion extending. through an opening. 6| in wins}! and havlng a spring locking engagement witha suitabl sochetfl ed jacentrecessil; {The other endoi rod 51 ea; tends into the end of hollow bar I and has a. curved portion 63 hearing against the bar 55 and pressing it into the nip of rolls 22 3 making such adjustments 1 3 Figureiz shows emsh s m li i m eq I ment of the invention in'which the spreader howl 2a is fixed to thenip-bar 58a and transverse tension bows; 42a fixed thereto. ."I'he-outer tensioningv bows 32; curved toward the 'zone oi fabric engagement, :arep yotallymounted in psi-s 41a on'frame 25 and manipulated by handles 480.. 1 In this arrangement the. spresdenfloats iri'the fabric and the central tension is through the handles to in obvious I In Figure 13 a similar construction is ilius trated except that the inner bows 42b .areourved: at their ends to terminateshort oi the sidebars of spreader 28b, and are irictionallypivotedin frame blocks 32b,on said. side bars for adjustmenttowardand iromtheiabric.

Theiabric maybe steamed at ancppropriate point or points; during its passage over the spreading and tensioning' apparatus. One arrangement is diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 8, in which a steam nozzle" of knowntyp'e? extends across the apparatus-below the fabricl'f.

Obviously the type and location of mumm es. device may be varied in accordance with the .vari-j ous conditions encountered in practice.

In the operation of the device, when fabric is passed over the spreader as showninFig.1 the engagement of the spreader bars 28; therewith tends to retard the marginal portions. Propeller. rolls Eli-are driven at a speed appropriate tolcorrect such deflection and to advancethe margins of the fabric ahead of corresponding. portions therebetween to an extent suilicient to'co'inpensate for the retardingeffect of the spreader rods 51, so that the fabric whenfengaged by the'fi'olls 22 will be in accurate transverse alignment. This fact however is dependent upon the ability e in theiiii' e idr of: the f vature 'jfviewedilir n th'e nsi er-same This arrangement permitareadyremoval ofa at Spreader rod 5.! topemitrepiacemeni Malab r 58, as when. substitutingia har ot different length. This may be accomplished s mpl by compresslnz the latch portion '60 toreleaselt iromsocketfi? and permit. the withdrawal 9 the latch-portion. in compressed. condition through opening. 1 8 l This feature-avoids the necessity for. removing the. spreader structure .from .the machine when curvature th ow varied. In-Ttheva'riation illustrated in e the bowel}? are curved so thatthey' foiiowtl'ie Y curvature of hows fi suflcientiyto fpi'ovidesiin lar.tension' throughont the zone action of;

hows; Moreover; becausejo tlfi'e 'c ljdfllllllr' signed engma'rwm unnngio as fa dijlegsfss,fthe devie defin s-b a ame.-she rr n ements-sa e:

been shown accurately to scale toffacilita't'ej th accurate determinationjoi'th var and curvatures of "the embodiments Spreading a 19 fl tt n n trav l.- ing 'tubular'iabri'c comprising a spreading' device tube and retarding the travel of the fabric at the margins, fabric retarding members in transverse bow formation engaging the outer and inner faces of both plies of theltube and apply- 5 ing a drag on said inner and outer faces in a restricted central'zone spaced from the marginal zones, and means for regulating the retarding effect of themembers. by adjusting at least one of said memberslongitudinally of the fabric.

2. Spreading apparatus for flattening traveling tubular fabric comprising a spreading device engaging the interior of the fabric tube-in restricted opposed marginal zones to flatten the tube, transverse tensioning means carried by said device and internally engaging the fabric, cooperating transverse tensioningmeans engag-. ing the fabric externally, and means for adjusting the spacing of the internal transverse tensioning means through the fabric.

3. Spreading apparatus for flattening travelingtubular fabric comprising a spreading device engaging the interior of the fabric tube in restricted opposed marginal zones to flatten the tube, transverse internal tensioning means carried by the device and having transversely convex faces engaging the fabric at its center portions and acting to impose a drag thereon, and cooperating external transverse, tensioning means having transversely convex faces engag- 9 ing the fabric adjacent the internal tensioning means. e g

4. Spreading apparatus for flattening traveling tubular fabric comprising a spreading device engaging the interior of the fabric tube in restricted opposed marginal zones to flatten the tube, transverse external tensioning means carried by the device and having transversely convex faces engaging the fabric,rcooperating external transverse tensioning means having trans- 1 0 versely convex faces engaging the fabric adjacent the internal tensioning means, and means for changing the effectivetr'ansverse curvature of the face of the external tensioning means in contact with the fabric.

65 5. Spreading apparatus for? flattening traveling tubular fabric comprising "a spreading device engaging the interior of the fabric tube in restricted opposed marginal zones to flatten the tube, internal transverse tensioning means, co-

operating external transverse tensioning means,

and means forv adjusting the position of the external tensioning means to vary the tension conditions, including means for shifting a fabricengaging element of the external means about I an axis, and'means for' adjusting the axis in a direction transverse to the plane of the fiattened tube. v 1 V 6.Spreading apparatus for flattening traveling tubular fabric comprising a spreading device engaging the interior of the fabric tube to flat-' ten the tube, internal transverse tensioning means carried by the device and having an outwardly convex transverse curvature, and cooperating transverse external tensioning means engaging the fabric adjacent the internal tensioning means and having a similar outwardly convex transverse curvature. v r

7. Spreading apparatus for flattening traveling tubular fabric comprising a spreading device engaging the interior of the fabric tube to flatten the tube, internal transverse tensioning means carried by the device and having an outwardly convex transverse curvature, cooperating transverse external tensioning means engaging the fabric adjacent the internal tensioning means and having a similar" outwardly convex transverse curvature under selected condi-.

tions, andmeans for varying the relative transverse curvature of the external and internal tensioning means along the faces thereof in engagementwith the fabric.

8. Spreading apparatus for flattening traveling tubular fabric 7 comprising an internal spreading device engaging opposed marginal zones of the fabrlc'tube and having transversely aligned recesses adjacent said zones, rotary propelling means extending into the recesses for engaging the fabric, and means extending across the recesses on opposite sides of the propeling means arranged to maintain the fabric in engagement with such propelling means.

9. Spreading apparatus for flattening traveling tubular fabric comprising an internal spreading device provided with heads each having portions extending along a marginal zone of the flattened fabric tube on opposite sides of a recess,.rotary propeller means extending into each recess in position to engage the 'fabric therein, and bridging means mounted on each head and extending across the recess at opposite sides of the propeller means arranged to maintain the fabric in engagement with .the

propeller means. 7

l0; Spreading apparatus for flattening traveling tubular fabric comprising a spreading device including heads engaging the interior of the tube in opposed marginal zones on opposite sides of I V a recess in each head, rotary propeller means extending into each recess to engage the fabric sitioned to engage the fabric adjacent'the pro-, peller means, and an interlocking engagement between said rotary means and propeller means arranged to support the spreading device upon the propeller means during operation.

11. A propeller head for spreading apparatus adapted to flatten tubular fabric, comprising an.

elongated surface adapted to engage internally a marginal portion of theflattened tube and having a recess therein adapted to receive a rotary fabric-propelling device, and fabric-guiding means carried by the head and extending across the recess at opposite sides thereof.

12. Spreading apparatus'for flattening traveling tubular fabric comprising an internal spreading device adapted to feed the flattened fabric between a pair of rollers, including side members, a nip bar adapted for location in the nip of the rollers, and resilient means carried by the side members and engaging the'nip bar to press the bar yieldably into said nip.

13. Spreading apparatus for flattening traveling tubular fabric comprising an internal spreading device adapted to feed the flattened fabric between a pair of rollers, including side fabric guide members, a tubular nip bar adapted for location in the nip of the rollers, and resilient means extending from the side members into the ends of the tubular bar to press the bar yieldably into said nip.

14. Spreading apparatus for flattening traveling tubular fabric comprising'an internal spreading device adapted to feed the flattened'fabric between a pair of rollers, including a tubular nip therein, rotary means'carried by each head poing tubular fabric comprising a tubular nip bar adapted for location in the nip of .a pair of fabric-engaging rollers, said bar having flattened end portions extending into said nip beyond the intermediate portion of the bar and forming elongated openings, and guide rods for the opposite margins of the fabric extending into the open ings arranged to maintain the bar in the nip.

16. Spreading apparatus for flattening traveling tubular fabric comprising a spreading device engaging the interior of the fabric tube in restricted opposed marginal zones to flatten the tube, transverse tensioning means carried by said device and internally engaging the fabric, cooperating transverse external tensioning means, at least one of said tensioning means including a transversely curved member in engagement with.

the fabric, and means for altering the angular position of the member relative to the fabric and thereby altering the effective transverse curvature of such margin in engagement with the fabric.

17. Spreading apparatus for flattening traveling fabric comprising a spreading device engaging the interior of the fabric tube in restricted opposed marginal zones to flatten the tube and retard the travel of the fabric at the margins,

fabric retarding means in bow formation engaging within the fabric tube-in a restricted central zone spaced from the marginal zones, andmeans for regulating the retarding effect of said how. means by adjustment thereof through the traveling fabric. 1

18. Spreading apparatus for flattening traveling tubular fabric comprising a spreading means engaging the interior of the fabric tube in restricted opposed marginal zones, flattening the means reducing said distention and re-drawing said fabric into spread and flattened form.

19. Spreading apparatus for flattening traveling tubular fabric comprising a spreadingzneans engaging the interior of the fabric tube in restricted opposed marginal zones, flattening the tube into laterally distended form and retarding the travel of the fabricv for a substantial distance at the margins, propelling means engaging opposite edges of thefabric in said zones, fabric retarding means in transverse bow formation following said spreading means and located adJacent said propelling means and engaging the fabric tub in a restricted centralar'ea to cause a progressive distention of the center portions of the fabric away from the plane of the initial spreading and flattening, means for regulating means by adjustment thereof through the traveling fabric, and subsequent feeding and flattening means reducing saiddistention and re-drawing said fabric into spread and flattened form.

I 20. Spreading apparatus for flattening travel-- ing tubular fabric comprising means spreading said fabric into flat laterally distended form with the upper and lower portions in substantially par 1 allel planes and moving said fabric along parallel ,margin'al guides ,and means engaging the marginal edges of the fabric while so distended to drive said fabric at a point on each side at a rate the retarding and distending effect of said bow,

advancing thef abric over the spreading means M and maintaining a relative lag of the edge portions with respect to the corresponding center portions, a pluralityof transverse bows between said spreading means and said marginal drive means and located at the center portions of said fabric inside and outside thereof and subjecting each ply thereof to outward internal pressure and inward external pressure at longitudinally successive and adjacent .pointsso that the center portions of the fabric are retarded and brought into transverse alinement with the marginal portions, and subsequent feeding and flattening",

means drawing the said fabric onward from said center means. l

' SAMUEL COHN.

JULES G. WALTER. 

